It is human (not religious) to seek meaning in life, connection to something beyond ourselves, a sense of purpose, and a means to invest some of our finite, irreplaceable time in a way that leaves a positive impact. Our passions may include ensuring equity and human rights; providing at-risk youth with opportunities and inspiration; addressing food/economic insecurity; promoting literacy and education; comforting those who are ill; ending relational and other human violence; ensuring an ecologically sustainable tomorrow; and overcoming other barriers to human and natural flourishing. When you joined BE. Orlando, you made a personal commitment to act on your passion and make a positive impact.

Volunteering with BE. addresses serious issues in our community – and goes a step further. Many people of non-faith and underrepresented faiths hesitate to volunteer, donate, pursue social service careers, or even seek needed services because of the faith bias at many charitable organizations. Our visible presence as a secular organization making a positive difference – as well as direct advocacy with individual charities – helps to overcome negative stereotypes and assumptions about non-religious people. Together, we are breaking down barriers, building bridges across divisions, and opening doors, minds, and hearts.

Thank you for BEing part of our mission and impact.

Help us keep this important work moving forward in 2019 – RSVP with us on Meetup.com/BEOrlando. Here’s some of what we have planned so far:

QUARTERLY CHAPTER MEETINGS Mark your calendars for these Saturdays at 1 p.m.: 2/9, 5/11, 8/10, and 11/9. The locations will be determined and posted soon.

SERVICE PROJECTS (more will be posted soon!)

JANUARY 5 – 1st 2019 event! Help at the Distaff Day Warmies & Food Drive!

2nd Wednesdays: Meal Serve at SafeHouse

3rd Wednesdays: Recovering From Religion Peer Support Group

Quarterly Blood Drives at a OneBlood branch office near you (in planning)

Quarterly Second Harvest volunteer events (3/9, 6/29, 8/24, & 12/21)

Festivals: Earth Day & Veg Fest Blood Drive & Humanist outreach tent

Position Postings – Board Members

We are actively recruiting board members to represent our mission to the greater Orlando community, assist with financial and strategic planning, and provide guidance and expertise to help increase our positive impact.

Board leadership is about creating the circumstances that will allow our mission to be achieved. You can help us translate our shared vision into action and serve as a powerful voice that communicates the impact and importance of our work.

Please share with anyone you know who may be interested. Contact: BEOrlando@live.com.

Pick-up service for those collecting at local businesses is available the week prior to Elfing Day, December 8 – 15th. Please email BEOrlando@live.com to arrange a pick-up at your Orlando-area place of business.

Many of us have taken advantage of early voting, but if you haven’t please make sure to get to the polls. For those of you seeking secular community voter guides, they can be difficult to find. A search brings up sadly outdated information and i apologize for not seeing this earlier. For the next election, we will provide a list of active, updated secular / human rights values voter resources to help you with your personal research on issues and candidates.

October Highlights

With the changes to the 2nd Wednesday dinners at SafeHouse, we need a minimum of 7 volunteers committed to attend in order to host the event. We were not able to provide the Super Spooky Supper or the Fall Feast this year. Can you serve with us for the Winter Wonderland Feast on Dec 12? Sign up here: https://www.meetup.com/BEOrlando/events/245541469/

As we look toward the holidays, please remember that this season becomes a time of togetherness, happiness, giving, and making great memories. FOR SOME. For others, this is the most difficult time of year. Please be supportive of those around you and find creative and meaningful ways to expand your kindness footprint. Whether you are volunteering, donating, or just making a stranger smile, the positive difference you make in the world matters now more than ever.

STE{A}M Toy Drive

BE. Orlando will host our annual Holiday STE{A}M Toy Drive. As you’re shopping in advance for gifts & great deals, please keep our toy drive – or any toy/supply drive – in mind. Our primary beneficiary will be the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida.

Please collect in your groups, workplaces, and at events. The site will have a flyer that you can post – please check the link below next weekend. We need STEM-related toys and books for children of all ages (0-18), gifts for men and women, and supplies for the Coalition (non-perishable food, cleaning supplies, toiletries, underwear, diapers, socks).

As always, pick-up services are available, December 8 – 15th. Please email BEOrlando@live.com to arrange a pick-up at your Orlando-area place of business.

The last day for donating to our drive is Saturday, December 15th. Saturday, 12/15/18, is our Elfing Day (BE’s annual holiday gift delivery to a charity/charities).

Special Days in November

11/8 National STEM Day – Celebrated on November 8th – A day meant to inspire youth interest in STEM activities and careers. Inspired by the Project Mc² brand, created by MGA Entertainment, the S.T.E.A.M.- based franchise features four super smart girls who are part of a super-secret spy organization called NOV8 (that’s “innovate”).

11/10 International Science Center and Science Museum Day – a yearly, global event on November 10th illustrating the impact and reach of all the world’s science centers and science museums. Learn more

11/12 Veteran’s Day – In 1918, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in World War I, then known as “the Great War.” Nov 11th became a national holiday in 1938. The Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers (MAAF) and other organizations and individuals remind us to honor ALL veterans. People who serve our country are of all faith and non-faith perspectives.

11/13 World Kindness Day – Observed on November 13th, it is an international observance introduced in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement a coalition of nations kindness NGOs. Learn more from the World Kindness Movement or visit wavesofkindness.org

11/15 National Philanthropy Day – Celebrated annually on November 15, this day is a signature event of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). Philanthropy means the love of humankind; this day celebrates people of the world who come together to both (1) put that word into action and (2) recognize the change that word has brought to our communities. Learn more: AFPnet.org

11/17 Family Volunteer Day – On the Saturday before Thanksgiving, the Points of Light Foundation kicks off the holiday spirit of giving with a day of service that celebrates the power of families who work together to support their communities and neighborhoods. Volunteering is a great way for kids and adults to bond, make new friends, develop compassion for their neighbors, and even pick up a new skill or two! Learn more at Points of Light

11/23 Fibonacci Day – November 23 is celebrated as Fibonacci day because when the date is written in the mm/dd format (11/23), the digits in the date form a Fibonacci sequence: 1,1,2,3. A Fibonacci sequence is a series of integers where a each is the sum of the two preceding it. What a great day to engage youth in pattern activities using the Fibonacci numbers, including tile square puzzles and spiral building.

11/22 Thanksgiving – Although having roots in religious traditions as a time to give thanks to a supernatural entity for the harvest, this is celebrated as a secular holiday as well. It is celebrated in many countries including America, Canada, Germany, Japan, Liberia, and some Caribbean islands. In America, it is traced to a feast in Plymouth, Massachusetts, held in thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest and is celebrated on the third Thursday in November. Secular celebrations of Thanksgiving – as well as those with a table of diverse family and friends of different cultures or worldviews – seek inclusive, secular graces and prayers. Visit our Secular Gratitude site to see our collection.

Church State Separation Week – declared by the Freedom From Religion Foundation and American Atheists, the week following Thanksgiving celebrates the separation of church and state and inspires activism. Information and Resources

October photo of the month

These two kittens, being cared for by Bacco’s Cats, are seeking their FURever home. Contact BEOrlando@live.com if interested. Share if you can.

September Highlights

Thank you all for BEing a member, and especially to those who have invested the time to serve with us. Making a difference with you has been awesome!

In September we had a great day sorting donations, making family boxes, sorting potatoes, and labeling cans to support Second Harvest Food Bank.

Important update: We’ve updated our agreement with SafeHouse for the monthly meal serve. Moving forward, at least 7 volunteers must confirm in order to hold the event. We hope you can join us & keep this tradition going.

At UCF: Humanist and Secular Services at UCF is hosting two workshops on October 20th: InterWorldview Inclusion and Atheism & Humanism. Contact nonreligion@ucf.edu if you’re interested in more information.

Special Days in October

LGBTQ+ History Month – In 1994, Rodney Wilson, a Missouri high school teacher, believed a month should be dedicated to the celebration and teaching of gay and lesbian history, and gathered other teachers and community leaders. They selected October because public schools are in session and existing traditions, such as Coming Out Day (October 11), occur that month. The month has been recognized and supported on a national level by GLAAD, HRC, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, and other national agencies.

10/9 – Ada Lovelace Day – held on the second Tuesday in October, this day celebrates the accomplishments of women in STEM, to increase the profile of women in STEM fields, and to encourage girls to explore STEM careers. Lovelace’s visionary contributions to computer science went unrecognized for more than a century.

10/11 – National Coming Out Day – Started in 1988, this day is celebrated annually on October 11th, the anniversary of National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights (1987).

10/12 – Freethought Day – On October 12, 1692, the governor of what is now Massachusetts declared that “spectral evidence” would no longer be admissible as court evidence. With a stroke his pen, nearly every charge was dropped against the accused “witches,” and many were pardoned. This marked the end of the Salem witch trials. Freethought day is about the separation of church and state, freedom from faith-biased prosecution and discrimination, and being visible in the community to alleviate mystery and misunderstanding about non-theism. This is sometimes referred to as “Freethought Coming Out Day”.

10/13 – Astronomy Day – In 2018, the dates are April 21st and October 13th. Astronomy Day is a world-wide event observed each spring and fall. The lunar influence on the schedule means that the events happen on a different date each year, rather than set calendar dates.

10/19 – National Donate for All Day – a day declared by our friends at Banned4Life, an organization dedicated to ending discriminatory regulations preventing gay males from donating blood. On this day, we ask those who are able to donate to give on behalf of those who cannot. Banned4Life was founded in 2007 by Blake Lynch and his partner Brett, students at UCF who were denied the opportunity to donate blood.

This past month a new Recovering from Religion chapter was formed in Orlando! The Peer Support and Discussion Group is now an official RfR group. You will still find the meetings posted on our meetup, or you can join the RfR meetup: https://www.meetup.com/RfR-Orlando-FL/

Membership Confirmations

Thanks to everyone who has updated their new member profile & confirmed their membership in BE. Orlando. Congrats to the gift card winners*, Eric, Cristel, Kathleen, David, Michael, Christen, Jane, Amanda, Rebekah, and John. Be on the lookout for your mystery gift card!

*no financial contribution was required; entry was free. Names were drawn at random from survey entries received by the 8/15/18 deadline. Winners will be contacted at the email provided in their entry form. Prizes can be mailed or picked up at a BE. Orlando event based on the recipient’s choice. Questions can be directed to beorlando@live.com.

October- Preview!

In October we begin our Holiday Trio of SafeHouse dinners: Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Winter Wonderland. Because we serve on the second Wednesday we are often the first holiday meal for each of those celebrations. We need YOU to join in and help set the tone for a fun holiday season. RSVP at http://meetup.com/BEOrlando

Special Days in September

9/3 – Labor Day is observed on the first Monday in September. It was originated by labor unions to create a holiday for workers.

9/11 – National Day of Service and Remembrance Visit 911day.org to find information, resources, and engagement opportunities on this important day of remembering the strength of community. Did you know that Meetup.com was founded by people who lived near the Twin Towers, and wanted to create an online tool to help people come together in our communities? We are proud to host our event calendar on Meetup and we honor the intent of Meetup and the initiatives of our nation by encouraging our members to reflect and to volunteer on this day.

9/15 – International Coastal Cleanup Day (ICCD) is held annually in September by the Ocean Conservancy. ICCD engages volunteers around the world in waterway cleanups and data collection. To find a project, visit the interactive project map. or oceanconservancy.org.

9/19 Talk Like a Pirate Day – “ARRRR me hearties!” and the like. Learn more: talklikeapirate.com. Our celebration of TLAPD goes back to the days long before BE was founded, when we ran amok with a kayak group called FOCK (Florida Outdoor Camping & Kayak) which later became FLOAT (Florida Outdoor Adventure Troupe). We had kayak pirate adventures – including more than 50 kayaks with pirate flags & kids & adults dressed as pirates on one of our TLAPD events. Later we began using a pirate theme for our blood donor group, PintClub, and our International Coastal Cleanup Day events. We may not be much into the pirate events these days, but we be havin’ swashbucklin’* fun for true, savvy? And in the words of the founders of TLAPD: It’s fun, so why not?

Swashbuckle. verb. 1. engage in daring adventures with ostentatious bravado or flamboyance. 2. to jump off stuff and laugh.

9/20 Ask an Atheist Day is an opportunity for secular groups and individuals to work together to defeat stereotypes about Atheism and encourage courteous dialogue between believers and nonbelievers. You can find images to use on your social media at https://secularstudents.org/askanatheistday/

9/21 World Gratitude Day was officially started by the United Nations Meditation Group in 1977. There are references indicating that it was started at a dinner party in Hawaii in 1965, and later brought to the meditation group, thus eventually becoming official. World Gratitude Day is meaningful to Humanists because mindful living and appreciation of the good have personal, mental, professional, physical, and cultural benefits. However, for many people of faith, the practice of gratitude is related specifically to the supernatural, and people of non-faith become stigmatized as being unable to feel or express complex human experiences and emotions like Gratitude. Learn more about Secular Gratitude and find examples of secular reflections and graces at SecularGratitude.wordpress.com (a project of BE. Orlando)

9/21 World Peace Day is designated by the United Nations General Assembly as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples. Learn more at un.org/en/events/peaceday

9/23-29 Banned Book Week, hosted by the Banned Books Week Coalition, is a national alliance of diverse organizations joined by a commitment to increase awareness of the annual celebration of the freedom to read.

9/25 Math Storytelling Day is a great opportunity to engage youth (and adults) in the story of Mathematics. Read together about the history of math, famous mathematicians (especially women and minorities). Read Flatland, the Fantasia Mathematica, the Sir Cumference Series, and other beautiful math-based stories. Engage in math word puzzles and logic games. It all adds up to fun!

Here’s a math story for you:

August Photo of the Month

We were seriously rocking those hair nets, right?

]]>https://beorlando.wordpress.com/2018/09/03/be-inspired-september-newsletter/feed/0Aug newsletter bannerbeorlandosg_logo_3IMG_20180808_185334826Secular inner life & well-beinghttps://beorlando.wordpress.com/2018/08/05/secular-inner-life-well-being/
https://beorlando.wordpress.com/2018/08/05/secular-inner-life-well-being/#respondSun, 05 Aug 2018 22:09:35 +0000http://beorlando.wordpress.com/?p=9337Continue reading Secular inner life & well-being]]>Lately I’ve received a larger than usual number of questions about well-being in secular life and the secular aspects and health benefits of religious practices such as prayer, sabbath, religious study, and fasting. The most recent questions came through the website all the way from Montenegro! Below are some brief responses to these complex questions. I encourage you to explore these topics in more depth.

Do non-religious people pray?

Some – not all – religious people pray, and there are some non-religious people who do something that might appear similar to praying. Some may even refer to it as “secular prayer”. Religious people pray to G/god(s) or other being(s) and believe they are connecting with a cognizant entity or force that/who hears them, and sometimes they believe that entity will respond or intervene in their lives or the lives of others on their behalf. But there is much more to prayer than the comfort that comes from a connection with the supernatural.

Research shows that building mindfulness “stops” and positive habits into daily life, like practicing intentional gratitude, meditative moments, presence, compassionate awareness, and other elements that can be present in prayer, increases happiness, focus, physical health, empathy, and other elements of well-being that set our intentions for a better life. Not superficial “McMindfulness”, but rather a genuine, meaningful practice. Some non-religious people do practice mindfulness, and sometimes they do so in a way that might even look or seem like “prayer”.

It is worth noting here that the word “prayer” can be seen as negative. It may be hard for some religious people, who think they are doing something that makes a difference by praying on/for others, to understand that non-religious people might receive this in a negative way. Prayer as it relates to G/god(s) can be perceived as an empty or lazy substitute for compassionate action. It may be even seem intrusive: using a difficult time in someone’s life as an opportunity to wedge faith in G/god(s) into a space where it is not wanted, meaningful, or helpful. In some cases it can be outright harmful. It matters whether the gesture is out of ignorance or hostile intention, but we can’t always know (although we can test it). For those marginalized it can be further isolating for the majority to continually reinforce their privilege. Although great in number, secular Americans face many challenges. Some secular people may be opposed to using the word “prayer” because of its associations with the supernatural and/or with religious privilege.

What is a “secular sabbath”?

There are those who practice a “secular sabbath” – a day of rest from work and stress to re-connect with peace, nature, family, or whatever is grounding and meaningful to us. Especially with the prevalence of technology, an intentional period of being unplugged is healthy, grounding, and uplifting. Secular Sabbath may be a full day of the week for some; for others it may be an hour a day watching sunrise, gardening, or simply resting. It slows down our pace and gives us space to just…BE.

Do non-religious people fast, like for Lent or Ramadan?

Some religious people fast in connection with their faith, believing that the practice of fasting brings them closer to G/god(s); however, there are also non-religious benefits of fasting. Some may even practice a prolonged secular sacrifice period similar to Lent or Ramadan. In fact, I do that myself for 42 days at the beginning of each year. Benefits include the reinforcement of inner fortitude – the strengthening of one’s will and self-control. The practice of delayed gratification helps us to focus on goals rather than on immediate returns. Reflection on what we need vs. what we want improves our ability to make decisions about how we live. There may be physical health benefits as well depending on your practice; however, extreme fasting can do damage to the body. If you practice fasting for any reason please make a sound, scientifically-based fasting plan.

Do some Atheists believe in God?

No. In a Pew Research Center report, “10 Facts About Atheists”, the researcher says that 8% of those who call themselves Atheists believe in God or a universal spirit. What they mean is that those individuals may not understand the meaning of the word: someone who does not believe in the existence of G/god(s) does not believe in God or a universal spirit. They also note, however, that although only 3% of Americans identify as Atheists, almost 10% of the population says they do not believe in God – they just don’t use “Atheist” which is the word meaning “someone who does not believe in God”, likely due to the stigma attached to the word Atheist. Note: 10% of Americans is almost twice as many as the number of Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, and other minority religious identities COMBINED.

Further, many people are culturally or in practice aligned with a faith or faith community but don’t believe in the God or dogma of that community. Along a person’s faith journey they may realize they no longer believe in the G/god(s), but the culture, traditions, and people of the religion are so intertwined in their life that to disengage from it would be traumatic and they may fear damaging relationships with loved ones. So they remain within the faith. There are many Atheists in pews (and even in pulpits), wearing religious symbols, or participating in religious life. In surveys they will likely claim the religion as their identity; we have no way of knowing the true numbers of Atheists. We can surmise, however, that it is many more than reported. It is is much more realistic to conceive of a religious person who doesn’t believe in G/god(s) than an Atheist who does.

Do non-religious people read religious texts?

Yes. In fact, in a Pew Research survey of religious knowledge, Atheists and Agnostics scored highest, especially in world religions. Some secular people appreciate the artistic and historical value of religious texts and are very familiar with them. Further, some feel that we must be able to cite religious works such as the bible in order to understand and counter arguments for religion in a meaningful way. Others feel that it is irrelevant and even wasteful; we no more need to read or cite the bible than we need to read or cite the Illiad & the Oddesy to know or argue that the stories are real.

InterWorldview Inner Life

How our worldviews inform our actions may be different, but we are all human beings -made of star dust – who seek meaning, fulfillment, happiness, and connection. We strive to have impact beyond ourselves and to do so we seek to become the best person we can be. Mindfulness and reflection habits help us in that journey; however, they are practiced, perceived, and named differently depending on an individual’s faith or non-faith and worldview lexicon. Honoring each others’ journeys begins with seeing the common threads that connect us.

*no financial contribution is required; entry is free. Names will be drawn at random from qualified survey entries (those entered in the month of July) in the third week of August, extended by two weeks from the initial proposed date. Winners will be contacted at the email provided in their entry form. Prizes can be mailed or picked up at a BE. Orlando event based on the recipient’s choice. Questions can be directed to beorlando@live.com.

July Highlights & News

July was a little slow for events, but it still rocked!

We hosted a presentation on Secular Volunteerism for our friends at the Humanist Community of the Space Coast and Brevard Area Atheists and participated in the Secular Leadership Summit, organized by the Central Florida Freethought Community.

The highlight of the month was definitely bringing several humongous Lazy Moon pizzas and salads & side dishes to SafeHouse for our meal serve – we couldn’t even get them through the door without tilting them! The kids were delighted.

8/5 National Friendship Day – did you know that Meetup was founded by some friends in New York not long after the 9/11 terrorist attacks? They wanted to build an online platform facilitating in-person community building so that people could connect with one another. There’s no better way to meet others who share your values & create great friendships than to volunteer together. Thank you to everyone for being part of our little Meetup group.

8/10/2018 – Palindrome WEEK! A palindromic number is similar to a lexical palindrome – they are the same forward and backward. A palindrome date, when written in a certain format, appears as a palindromic number. For example 8102018 (8/10/2018). All the days in the week Aug 10-19 are Palindrome Days. And don’t forget August 1st – 8/1/18. Palindrome dates this century: https://www.livescience.com/33583-palindrome-dates-21st-century-weird.html

8/11 – Ingersol Day – celebrating the life and contributions to Freethought of Robert Green Ingersol. “We rise by lifting others” ~ Robert Ingersol

8/19 – World Humanitarian Day – The sixty-third session of the UN General Assembly designated 19 August as World Humanitarian Day. August 19th is the anniversary of a terrorist attack on the UN headquarters in Baghdad. The day honors those who have lost their lives in humanitarian service and those who continue to bring assistance and relief to millions. It also seeks to educate the public about global humanitarian needs and the importance of international cooperation to address these needs. Learn more: UN.org

8/23 – Last day to mail your ballots if you are voting by mail.

8/26 – Katherine Johnson’s 100th Birthday. Johnson is an African-American mathematician hired by NASA in 1964. Her calculations of orbital mechanics were critical to the success of the first and subsequent U.S. manned spaceflights. Learn more: https://www.nasa.gov/content/katherine-johnson-biography

NEW! We have updated our member welcome process, and current members will be asked over the coming months to update their registration. Anyone who fills out the registration form in July will be entered for a chance to win* a gift card (10 prizes with values from $5 to $50).

*no financial contribution is required; entry is free. Names will be drawn at random from qualified survey entries (those entered in the month of July) in the first week of August. Winners will be contacted at the email provided in their entry form. Prizes can be mailed or picked up at a BE. Orlando event based on the recipient’s choice. Questions can be directed to beorlando@live.com.

June Highlights & News

We hope you had an amazing June, and that you took the opportunity to eat twice the pie on Tau Day.

June was an amazing month of service that included volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House, the Mustard Seed, and Second Harvest Food Bank in addition to the monthly meal serve and support group meetups.

The highlight of June HAD to be wading in thigh-deep muddy water & ankle-deep muck around a marshy island in the middle of Lake Jessup – during alligator mating season – to stabilize a shoreline with Seminole County SERV!

Special Days in July

7/4 – Jesse Ventura, a Minnesota politician and activist for the right to freedom and from religion, declared July 4, 2002, “Indivisible Day” in recognition of the need for the separation of church and state- necessary for people of all worldviews to coexist in harmony. The day is still recognized by some as Indivisible Day; “One nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for ALL”.

7/8 – Math 2.0 Day – celebrates math as the foundation of science and technology. First celebrated in 2009.

7/11 – (United Nations) World Population Day. 2018 theme: Family Planning is a Human Right. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the 1968 International Conference on Human Rights, where family planning was for the first time globally affirmed to be a human right. Read More.

7/18 – (United Nations) Nelson Mandela International Day

7/20 – Moon Landing Day – in 1969, Apollo 11 landed on the moon on this day.

7/22 – Pi Approximation Day or “Casual Pi Day” is held on July 22 (22/7) signifying the fraction 7/22 as an estimation of Pi. While this only works in countries where the month precedes the day in standard format, it is a good day to share approximately three pints with friends or casually consume pi(e).

7/30 – (United Nations) International Day of Friendship

June Photo of the Month

Oh yes we DID! From the airboat ride to the lake muck caked in our clothes, the shoreline work with Seminole County SERV was definitely an epic volunteer adventure!

Advertising its Summer Series talks, Greenville Avenue Church of Christ in Richardson, Tx, declares “isms” – including Judaism, Islamism, and Atheism – “dangerous”. Minister Shelton Gibbs III said that topics such as racism or sexism won’t be discussed because “there are only so many Wednesdays in a summer.” Responding to social media backlash, Gibbs indicated he teaches his followers that those outside of their church’s interpretation of religion are contrary to “God’s Order”.

In the posts & articles i’m seeing about this, Judaism and Islamism are being openly defended, but there’s a roaring silence in the headlines. Article include “Church compares Judaism, Islamism to ‘dangerous isms’“; “North Texas church targets ‘dangerous isms’ like Judaism“; and “Texas church ‘dangerous isms’ include Judaism, Islamism“. The “A” word is missing: the unspoken, unvoiced identity.

“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies,but the silence of our friends.” – Dr. Martin Luther King

Not only is Minister Gibbs teaching that Atheists are dangerous, but the public is quietly excluding them from discourse about the negative implications of this Summer Series theme. The silence inherently perpetuates negative stereotypes about non-religious people. Because of both ignorance and silence like what we see here, people of non-faith are arguably the most mistrusted, misunderstood, & hated identity.

7.1% of the US population – that’s 22.8 million Americans – identify as Atheist or Agnostic. There are 5.7 million Jewish people and 3.3 million Muslims living in the United States. 31.8 million people are one of those three identities, and all are directly impacted.

Advocates and Allies are voices for the voiceless. The world needs more of that. Silence around issues – like recognizing Atheism as an authentic identity – builds walls between us that isolate and harm people.

We received notice on June 1st that we have been accepted as a chapter of the American Humanist Association!

The American Humanist Association has stood as the voice of humanism in the United States for over 70 years. We are proud to be a reflection in Central Florida of AHA’s efforts to bring about a progressive society where being good without a god is an accepted and respected way to live life.

May Highlights & News

May was fun! We served with UCP of Central Florida, the Zebra Coalition, and SafeHouse of Seminole. Our members participated in the Letter Carrier’s Food Drive supporting efforts to address summer food insecurity and donated 37 awesome STEM-themed books, including books highlighting women and minorities, to support summer literacy initiatives. While we were at the Zebra Coalition we delivered the Positive Postcards written to LGBTQ+ youth at April’s Earth Day Festival. We also joined the Central Florida Freethought Community for a discussion about the challenges – and importance – of volunteering as a secular person. At the event, members of the CFFC dropped off books for the book drive and wrote Positive Postcards for the Staff at Second Harvest Food Bank that will be delivered at our 6/16 event.

Member’s Favorite Positive Life Quote

Contributed by: ErnestoNever stop learning.

May Photo of the Month

BE. members after a day of volunteering with the Zebra Coalition of Central Florida.

Zebra Coalition is a network of organizations which provide services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and all youth (LGBTQ+) ages 13 – 24. The Coalition assists young people facing homelessness, bullying, isolation from their families, and physical, sexual and drug abuse with individualized programs to guide them to recovery and stability.

]]>https://beorlando.wordpress.com/2018/06/02/be-inspired-june-newsletter/feed/0Picture1beorlandoOfficial_AHA_logo.svgteeIMG_20180512_114623590_HDRBE. Inspired – May Newsletterhttps://beorlando.wordpress.com/2018/04/30/be-inspired-may-newsletter/
https://beorlando.wordpress.com/2018/04/30/be-inspired-may-newsletter/#respondTue, 01 May 2018 00:24:09 +0000http://beorlando.wordpress.com/?p=9268Continue reading BE. Inspired – May Newsletter]]>There are secular people who don’t donate, volunteer, or even seek needed services because they don’t want to be faced with proselytizing and other bullying. BE a voice for others: Do you know of a charity doing a great job of including secular people? One not doing such a great job? Rate them here: https://tinyurl.com/cf-charity-report

What book(s) inspired you when you were young?

Summer reading loss is a documented issue that perpetuates the learning gap, increasing the risk – and increasing the struggle – for students from low–socioeconomic families. Children from middle-income homes have on average 13 books per child; there is only one book for every 300 children in low-income neighborhoods. Fewer than half (48%) of young children in the U.S. are read to daily. The percentage of children read to daily drops even lower (to 36%) among low-income families.*

YOU CAN HELP students in our local community by donating new books to support the summer literacy book drive. Remember, these books will be given as gifts – so we have to choose books THEY will want to read!

ADDRESSING SPECIFIC GAPS IN BOOK DRIVES, we are seeking books for young adults (middle and high school) focusing on STEM and/or highlighting women and minorities. Books must be in new condition and be secular in nature.

Our books will be donated to support the United Way’s Day of Action and other local initiatives that address summer reading loss in Central Florida communities.

You can bring books to any event through May 25th. Consider including an inscription about why you chose that book! Those hosting drives at their place of business can arrange a pick-up by contacting BEOrlando@live.com.

Are you a member of AHA?

Our application for chapter status with the American Humanist Association is still in process. We need one more AHA member, who is also a BE. member, to sign the application – could that be you? Contact BEOrlando@live.com for more information.

April Highlights & News

April was a great month full of adventures – like our annual visit to Symphony Under the Stars at UCF; hosting the blood drive, a service project, and a Humanist outreach vendor tent at Central Florida Earth Day; sorting donations at Second Harvest Food Bank; joining CFFC for their monthly park cleanup; joining UCP to help set up their Gala and assist with a park project; and we even popped in to UCF’s BIG Blood Drive!

Tee will be talking about something she loves: volunteering as an Atheist. Giving back is an important part of human flourishing. Do secular people volunteer less? How “out” should you be? Should you volunteer at faith-biased organizations? How do you research charities to find great volunteer opportunities? There are so many barriers to volunteerism – what are some ways around, through, or over them? How do you measure and expand YOUR kindness footprint as a Humanist – and as a human?

5/29, Memorial Day – including honoring Atheist, Humanist, and other non-theistic solders who have given their lives for our country

5/31, World No-Tobacco Day (BE. Orlando maintains a no-smoking policy at all events!)

Member’s Favorite Positive Life Quote

Contributed by: Eli“I don’t feel that it is necessary to know exactly what I am. The main interest in life and work is to become someone else that you were not in the beginning. If you knew when you began a book what you would say at the end, do you think that you would have the courage to write it?” – Michel Foucault

April Photo of the Month

Lovell, caught in the act of saving three lives by donating blood at our Central Florida Earth Day blood drive: